Ideational Power as a Conceptual Framework for Understanding Iran’s Soft Power

This paper argues that the prevalent conceptual framework of soft power, proposed by Joseph Nye, is not capable of fully grasping Iran’s regional influence and popularity among diverse nations. Maybe the materialistic and secular nature of its components can explain the failure. The current research endeavors to articulate a new conceptual framework to explain Iran’s regional soft power and influence. Based on a pilot study and along some newly conducted researches, the author argues that we should trace the foundations of the new conceptual framework in Iranian-Islamic worldview. To scrutinize the worldview, a theoretical model has been constructed based on Ayatollah Motahari’s thoughts. To conduct the research, directive qualitative content analysis has been employed to analyze worldview of the Leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The findings of the study demonstrate that ideational and non-material factors are cornerstones of the Iranian-Islamic Worldview which direct us to a new conceptual framework, Ideational Power, to explain Iran’s regional influence and soft power.Keywords: Ideational Power, Iranian- Islamic Worldview, Soft-Power, Islamic Republic of Iran